More Than A CV
More Than A CV is a podcast where Tech and Talent Acquisition Leaders share their knowledge and experience on improving hiring practices, innovative ways to approach hiring and how we need to look at candidates as more than a CV.
Navigating Leadership in Tech

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Mark Kitching, a seasoned engineering leader with experience at major companies like Sky and Labbible. Mark shares his journey from a traditional engineering background to leadership roles, emphasising the importance of team dynamics, cultural fit, and effective hiring practices.
He discusses the challenges of scaling teams, the significance of curiosity in tech roles, and the need for strong communication between tech and business teams. Mark also r...
Importance of getting selection right and impact on culture.

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Vicky Ferrier, former Non-Executive Director and Chief People and Commercial Officer at Konsileo and now advisor. Vicky shares her career journey, highlighting her transition from finance to people management and her passion for self-managed organisations.
The conversation delves into the importance of culture in recruitment, the development of a proprietary tool for assessing candidates, and the significance of curiosity and belonging in the workplace. Vicky emphasises t...
Transforming Recruitment: The Role of Data-Driven Insights in Hiring

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Mark McManus, a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at Worley, about the evolution of talent acquisition and the increasing importance of data-driven recruitment. They discuss how data analytics can optimise hiring processes, improve candidate experiences, and drive diversity and inclusion outcomes.
Mark shares insights on how to sell data-driven approaches to leadership, the benefits of using data in recruitment, and the challenges of addressing bias in AI s...
Building TA best practice from scratch within an organisation

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Cat Hardy, a Technology Talent Partner at Axiologic. Cat shares her unique career journey from hospitality to tech recruitment, discussing the challenges and rewards of transitioning into a new field. She emphasises the importance of building a strong talent acquisition function from the ground up, enhancing candidate experience, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders.
Cat also highlights the significance of data-driven recruitment, assessing tech talent based on s...
Building Effective Teams at bet365

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen interviews Adam Davis, Senior Systems Development Manager at bet365. Adam shares his career journey from software engineering to leadership, discussing the challenges and opportunities he faced while transitioning to a larger organisation. He emphasises the importance of building and scaling teams, adapting to rapid growth, and finding the right fit during the hiring process.
Adam also shares insights on interview techniques, supporting candidates, and the value of side p...
Leading with Data: Jessica Simons Boswell on Building Functions, Teams & Careers

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Jessica Simons-Boswell, the Enterprise Data Officer at Diligenta.
Jessica shares her extensive journey in the data field, discussing her transition from technical roles to leadership positions. She emphasises the challenges of building a data function from the ground up, the importance of effective recruitment strategies, and the need for diversity and inclusion in hiring practices.
Jessica also provides insights into workforce planning, the significance o...
Job Titles vs. Job Reality: Why They Don’t Always Match

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Paul Hornby, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Bestway Healthcare. Paul shares his extensive career journey in e-commerce and digital transformation, discussing the importance of blending technical and commercial skills. He emphasises the value of networking, the challenges of navigating job titles in the tech industry, and the significance of creating a positive team culture.
Paul also reflects on his new role in h...
Job Titles vs. Job Reality: Why They Don’t Always Match

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Paul Hornby, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Bestway Healthcare. Paul shares his extensive career journey in e-commerce and digital transformation, discussing the importance of blending technical and commercial skills. He emphasises the value of networking, the challenges of navigating job titles in the tech industry, and the significance of creating a positive team culture.
Paul also reflects on his new role in healthcare and the l...
The Importance of Mentorship in Professional Growth

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen interviews Zahraa Murtaza, Senior Vice President, Agile Coach at BNY, who shares her diverse career journey from project management to agile coaching.
Zahraa discusses the importance of adaptability in hiring practices, the significance of transparency in the recruitment process, and the impact of AI on hiring. She emphasises the value of mentorship, continuous learning, and being authentic in professional settings.
Connect wi...
The Importance of Mentorship in Professional Growth

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen interviews Zahraa Murtaza, Senior Vice President, Agile Coach at BNY, who shares her diverse career journey from project management to agile coaching.
Zahraa discusses the importance of adaptability in hiring practices, the significance of transparency in the recruitment process, and the impact of AI on hiring. She emphasises the value of mentorship, continuous learning, and being authentic in professional settings.
Connect with Zahraa Murtaza here – Zahraa Mur...
Revolutionising Hiring Practices in Tech

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode, Sean Allen speaks with Jacob Clark, Director of Engineering at Hyperact, about the evolving landscape of hiring in the tech industry.
They discuss the importance of focusing on people in software development, the need for innovative hiring practices, and the significance of diversity and inclusion in building high-performing teams.
Jacob shares insights on refining recruitment processes, the value of pair programming in interviews, and the necessity of treating the hiring process as a...
Revolutionising Hiring Practices in Tech

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode, Sean Allen speaks with Jacob Clark, Director of Engineering at Hyperact, about the evolving landscape of hiring in the tech industry. They discuss the importance of focusing on people in software development, the need for innovative hiring practices, and the significance of diversity and inclusion in building high-performing teams.
Jacob shares insights on refining recruitment processes, the value of pair programming in interviews, and the necessity of treating the hiring process as a product that requires continuous i...
Hiring in Start-ups Through a Head of Engineering’s Lens

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen interviews Alex Fenton, a freelance consultant with a rich background in both corporate and startup environments. Alex shares his journey from working at major companies like Sky and Unilever to becoming a key player in the startup scene, particularly at Cuckoo.
The conversation delves into the stark cultural differences between corporate and startup settings, the importance of hiring the right talent, and the strategies for b...
Hiring in Start-ups through a Head of Engineering's Lens

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen interviews Alex Fenton, a freelance consultant with a rich background in both corporate and startup environments. Alex shares his journey from working at major companies like Sky and Unilever to becoming a key player in the startup scene, particularly at Cuckoo.
The conversation delves into the stark cultural differences between corporate and startup settings, the importance of hiring the right talent, and the strategies for building a strong t...
Building High-Performing Teams in Software Engineering

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Mujtaba Ghauri, an Engineering Manager with over a decade of experience in software engineering.
Mujtaba shares his career journey, starting as an intern at Auto Trader and progressing through various roles to his current position. He discusses his hiring philosophy, emphasising the importance of potential and problem-solving skills, and how he fosters a culture of growth and opportunity within his teams.
Mujtaba al...
Building High-Performing Teams in Software Engineering

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Mujtaba Ghauri, an Engineering Manager with over a decade of experience in software engineering. Mujtaba shares his career journey, starting as an intern at Auto Trader and progressing through various roles to his current position. He discusses his hiring philosophy, emphasising the importance of potential and problem-solving skills, and how he fosters a culture of growth and opportunity within his teams.
Mujtaba also highlights the significance o...
The Art of Personal Branding in Recruitment with Sean the TA Guy

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Sean Kennedy, a seasoned talent acquisition professional known as 'Sean the TA guy.' They discuss the importance of personal branding in recruitment, the interplay between personal and employer branding, and the significance of storytelling in attracting candidates. Sean shares insights on measuring success in branding efforts, tips for building a personal brand, and strategies for starting employer branding campaigns. The conversation emphasises the need for consistency, creativity, a...
The Art of Personal Branding in Recruitment with Sean the TA Guy

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Sean Kennedy, a seasoned talent acquisition professional known as 'Sean the TA guy.'
They discuss the importance of personal branding in recruitment, the interplay between personal and employer branding, and the significance of storytelling in attracting candidates.
Sean shares insights on measuring success in branding efforts, tips for building a personal brand, and strategies for starting employer branding campaigns. The conversation em...
Building Engineering Communities and Cultures

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, I speak with Richard McIntyre, Chief Engineer at BJSS, now part of CGI, about his unique journey into software engineering, the importance of building a strong engineering culture, and effective hiring practices.
Rich shares insights from his extensive experience in both the UK and Japan, emphasising the need for collaboration between engineering and recruitment teams to achieve rapid hiring success. He discusses the impact of Japanese work culture on his...
Building Engineering Communities and Cultures

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Richard McIntyre, Chief Engineer at BJSS now part of CGI, about his unique journey into software engineering, the importance of building a strong engineering culture, and effective hiring practices.
Rich shares insights from his extensive experience in both the UK and Japan, emphasising the need for collaboration between engineering and recruitment teams to achieve rapid hiring success. He discusses the i...
Understanding 'Why' in Recruitment Strategy

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Jonny Hiles, Talent Acquisition Lead at Answer Digital. With extensive experience in the tech and digital market, we discuss the importance of understanding the 'why' behind recruitment, the impact of employee ownership on recruitment strategies, and the significance of culture and values in hiring practices.
Jonny shares insights on developing an effective Employer Value Proposition (EVP) and emphasises the need for diversity and i...
Understanding 'Why' in Recruitment Strategy

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, Sean Allen speaks with Johnny Hiles, a talent acquisition leader with extensive experience in the tech and digital market. They discuss the importance of understanding the 'why' behind recruitment, the impact of employee ownership on recruitment strategies, and the significance of culture and values in hiring practices.
Johnny shares insights on developing an effective Employer Value Proposition (EVP) and emphasises the need for diversity and inclusion in recruitment. He also o...
Hiring with a Human Touch: Why Personalisation Matters

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, I speak with Mala Benn, Head of Engineering at Glean. Mala shares her diverse career journey from software development to tech leadership, emphasising the importance of leadership and team dynamics.
We discuss Glean's unique hiring process, which prioritises candidate experience, diversity, and transparency. Mala highlights the significance of employer branding and the use of technology in recruitment, as well as the continuous feedback loop that helps improve...
Hiring with a Human Touch: Why Personalisation Matters

More Than A CV is proudly sponsored by Biometric Talent - The Tech Authentication Specialists.
In this episode of the More Than a CV podcast, I speak with Mala Benn, Head of Engineering at Glean. Mala shares her diverse career journey from software development to tech leadership, emphasising the importance of leadership and team dynamics.
We discuss Glean's unique hiring process, which prioritises candidate experience, diversity, and transparency. Mala highlights the significance of employer branding and the use of technology in recruitment, as well as the continuous feedback loop that helps improve the hiring process.<...